Baidu joins driverless car buzz

(ECNS) – China's Internet giant Baidu is quietly rolling out its first driverless car, according to cnstock.com.

Baidu Inc., which owns China's biggest search engine, is developing cars that can drive themselves, and may conduct road tests by the end of the year.

The cars will also use radar, laser, camera and GPS, which many car makers use on their driverless cars to detect surrounding objects.

Using artificial intelligence and a sensor system, the car will be able to read traffic signs, understand voice controls, and assess road conditions. The car will then use some software to upload and run an analysis of the sensor data and automatically decide the direction and speed.

Technology companies such as Google and carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are accelerating their race to produce fully or partly automatic vehicles. In China, higher education institutions and companies are conducting research, and Baidu is likely to be the first to put the idea into practice.

Earlier this month, Baidu confirmed it's developing driverless bicycles. The company declined to reveal more details about its driverless car.